Movie review: ‘Spiderwick Chronicles’ weaves a thrilling tale

Like “Harry Potter” and “The Golden Compass” movies, “The Spiderwick Chronicles” is based on a series of books. This time though, it is not a book I have read, so there’ll be no comparisons here. But if the film is anything to go by, the books must be quite good.

Freddie Highmore (“Finding Neverland” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”) plays twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace. Jared is angry about his parents’ separation and having to move with his mother and siblings to an old house his mother inherited in a small rural town.

Simon is more even-tempered, more logical and he doesn’t like conflict. He describes himself as a pacifist and won’t be bullied or teased into changing his ways.

Immediately upon moving into the house, Jared hears odd noises, and before the night is over he has discovered a book in the attic that carries a note warning against opening it. But of course, he opens it anyway.

The book is an encyclopedia of fairies, goblins and ogres compiled 80 years earlier by great-great uncle Arthur Spiderwick (David Strathairn). Opening the book signals its existence to the big, bad ogre Mulgarath (Nick Nolte) who would use its secrets to destroy all good fairies and then humans.

Jared must now convince his brother and older sister Mallory (Sarah Bolger) that goblins exist — not terribly difficult once the goblins attack them. Plus a friendly brownie/bogart (Martin Short) gave Jared a special doughnut-shaped stone through which the otherwise invisible goblins and fairies can be seen.

Mallory has the unusual, but very handy, hobby of fencing. Her skill with a sword becomes very useful as the children skirmish with the goblins surrounding their house.

The pacing is quite good, with the story encompassing about 24 hours. There are few if any scenes that feel extraneous and nothing that seems to slow the movie’s momentum.

While the movie focuses on Jared, Highmore gets to show his range by playing both brothers. He does a good job making each brother distinct in personality and manners. He also does a decent American accent.

The special effects are also well done. Some of the goblins are a bit too cartoonish, but Thimbletack (the brownie), Hogsqueal (a friendly hobgoblin bent on revenge against Mulgarath) and Mulgarath were excellently crafted. And the pretty little flower fairies were exquisite.

Though it’s not something I normally comment on, the set design was quite good, as well. Especially in the attic where Spiderwick worked. All the details were finely attended to and the drawings in the book itself are little works of art.

The biggest disappointment in the film was Mary Louise Parker as the mom. Both the role and the portrayal were uninspired. As a character, the mom was the typical clueless and idiotic parent who inhabits so many children’s movies. And Parker, fantastic on the “West Wing” and in “Weeds,” does little to bring the mother out of her stereotyped role as the poor divorcee too tired to do anything but scream and keep secrets to “protect” her son.

All of the side character actors and voice actors did a great job. Strathairn was dreamy yet single-minded. Joan Plowright as Spiderwick’s grown daughter had a charming blend of innocence and wisdom. Short, Nolte and Seth Rogen (Hogsqueal) clearly had fun with their parts, adding comedy or fright, as the case may be.

One of the best bits in the movie was the denouement: The big battle scene near the end rages through the house causing all the characters to be brave and creative as they fight to protect the book from Mulgarath and his minions. The action works up to a fever pitch when suddenly the climax of this scene manages to be surprising and funny, providing both the resolution and some comic relief in a single moment.

This movie may have been marketed for children, but I thoroughly enjoyed it as a high quality bit of fantasy film making. This is one film all ages can enjoy together.

(Rated PG; 4 stars out of 5)

Amanda Brooks can be reached at 737-1056 or abrooks@lompocrecord.com.